Sean Dyche hits back over claims Liverpool have bid for £50m-rated Burnley player

The 26-year-old central defender is enjoying a solid campaign for the Clarets whom he joined from Brentford in early 2016.

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Liverpool went into their 22nd league game of the season against Brighton & Hove Albion with three centre-backs out.

Joe Gomez, Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip are missing through injuries though the latter has recently returned to training.

The Reds boss Jurgen Klopp had to field Fabinho in central defence against Wolves, and did the same for the trip to Brighton on Saturday.

Tarkowski, with whom the club have been linked, sees his present deal at Turf Moor expire in June 2022.

But Sean Dyche has made it clear no offer has been made for the centre-back.

Tarkowski, who has been capped twice by England under Gareth Southgate, was recently linked with a big move to Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Jurgen Klopp’s men are currently without a number of first-team centre-backs, however when asked if there’s been contact Dyche refuted the stories, though concedes players attracting interest is very much commonplace.

“I’m not suggesting it’s rubbish, I’m suggesting it’s a new one on me,” he told reporters.

“Virtually all players here have been linked with someone and they get used to it. Tarky has certainly had that many times and I think he’s going about business very well at the moment. We haven’t had inquiries for anyone.”

Tarkowski’s season

Tarkowski, 26, is currently enjoying a third consecutive Premier League campaign with Burnley after joining the Clarets midway through their promotion-winning season (2015/16).

Up until this season Tarkowski hadn’t registered a goal for Dyche’s side. Across his 18 league appearances this season Tarkowski has bagged three goals.

His performances last season earned him an international call-up before winning a first England cap against Italy in March 2018. Tarkowski would play the full 90 minutes as Gareth Southgate’s men would draw 1-1.

A further cap, against Switzerland in September 2018 would follow, Tarkowski played 61 minutes as the Three Lions ran out 1-0 winners but Southgate hasn’t called him up in the last two international breaks.